Chapter 14
Sweet Revenge
No matter how many times Val tried to talk to Draco in the next month, he avoided her. The Quidditch season was over. Gryffindor had won the season, which brought little happiness to Val. She had been furious with Ron for blurting out what he had. She knew Draco had no right to badmouth Ron’s parents. For that she had been truly ashamed, but his comeback had driven a wedge in between her and Draco, that she was not sure she could ever remove.
It was the day before Christmas break, and the four friends were sitting in the Gryffindor common room talking over what their plans were for the holidays. Ron and Hermione were going home, seeing as both of their families were planning spectacular Christmas celebrations. Harry had originally planned on going with Ron, but the idea of leaving Val alone during Christmas, after all that had happened didn’t sit well with him. She was already thoroughly depressed, and spending the holidays alone would do her no good. So he had decided to stay at Hogwarts instead. He of course did not tell Val that, that was the reason. He made up a story about wanting to spend his last Christmas at Hogwarts because he would miss it after he had graduated. Val didn’t seem to care what his reasons were. Honestly he wondered if she even realized what he had said.
At that moment they were interrupted by a fifth year. “Harry, Dumbledore wants to see you in his office.” Ron and Hermione gave him strange looks, wondering what Harry was in for next.
“I’ll see you guys in a bit.” Harry said standing.
He made his way through the bustling hallways until he stood outside of Dumbledore’s office staring at the two gargoyles. Dumbledore had given him the password at the beginning of term and Harry hoped that it had not changed. “Fizzing Whizbees.” He called out and the two gargoyles jumped back revealing the staircase to his office. Harry wondered what Dumbledore would say. They hadn’t discussed the Horcrux all year, even though Harry was positive that Dumbledore was still searching for them. The Headmaster had disappeared from the school several times that year.
He knocked when he reached the office. “Come in, Harry.” Dumbledore called out. He walked in smiling.
“How did you know it was me?” Harry asked.
“Just a guess.” The old man said with a twinkling in his eye. “Sit down. I have news.”
Harry was surprised. Any other time and Dumbledore would have offered him a refreshment, just to show politeness, but Harry could see the absolute look of mischief in the older man’s eyes. “What is it, Professor?”
“R.A.B” Dumbledore said brightly.
Harry remembered the initials that were on the note in the fake Horcrux. “Do you know who it is?”
“I have a theory. But there are members of the Order who don’t agree me.” Dumbledore answered.
“I trust your judgment. Who?” Harry asked.
“Regulus Anton Black.” Dumbledore said noticing the reaction on Harry’s face.
“Sirius’ brother. But he was a Death Eater.” Harry said shaking his head in denial.
“Yes he was, Harry. But he was also killed by Voldemort, and I think he was killed because of this Horcrux. Somehow Voldemort learned that Regulus had it, and he killed him for it.” Dumbledore explained his theory.
Harry wasn’t sure that he could believe such a thing. Sirius had mentioned his brother, but had never mentioned the possibility that Regulus could have turned against his master. “But if Regulus had denounced Voldemort, wouldn’t someone from the Order know?”
“Not necessarily. But there may be a way to find out. It is believed that Regulus spent his last few years alive in the Black family Manor. There might be clues.” Dumbledore suggested.
“Well then the Order should search the house by all means.” Harry said wondering if Dumbledore was asking for permission to rifle through the house that he had inherited.
“At this moment Remus is doing just that, but there are powerful charms still present in the house, that even I can not break.” The wise old Wizard said smiling at Harry.
Harry’s eyes narrowed sensing that Dumbledore had something in mind for him.
“Yes, Harry. I am asking for your help. You being the rightful owner of Black Manor makes you the only person who should be able to learn all of its secrets.” Dumbledore said giving Harry a bright smile.
“You want me to go back there.” Harry said and a deep frown creased his face. But he knew it was important or Dumbledore would never ask him. “When?” He said in a defeated tone.
“Good, man. Tomorrow. You have over a fortnight to see what you can discover before you return to the school.” Dumbledore smiled brightly knowing Harry would not refuse.
“But, I was going to stay here for the Holidays.” Harry said remembering the way Val looked before he had left the common room. He definitely felt that she should not be alone for the Holiday.
“I’m sorry, Harry. But this is too important to wait.” Dumbledore gave him a consolatory glance.
“Alright.” Harry answered. In his mind he vowed to discover what ever he needed to at Black Manor as quickly as possible and then return to Hogwarts immediately.
When Harry told his friends that he would be unable to stay at Hogwarts for the Holidays, Val didn’t even look up at him. She was lost in thought. Hermione on the other hand looked to Val with a worried look. Harry did not mention where he was going. They had yet to tell Val of Harry’s connection to Sirius Black or the Order of the Pheonix.
“I’m going for a walk.” Val said standing. She hadn’t really listened to their conversation at all. She started out of the common room, but Harry stopped her grabbing her hand.
“Val, are you okay?” The worried look on his face finally broke into her otherwise occupied mind.
“I’m sorry, Harry. I haven’t been very good company lately. I just have so much on my mind. I’m fine though. Don’t worry about me.” She said giving him a dazzling smile that he noticed did not reach her eyes.
“Okay, but don’t stay out too late. It’s almost dark.” He said giving her hand a squeeze.
She turned then and walked through the portrait hole in the wall. After she left Harry explained what Dumbledore wanted him to do.
“Are you sure you’ll be okay, Harry.” Hermione asked.
“Yes, why?” He asked confused.
“Harry, we remember last summer rather well.” Ron answered.
“Oh, that. Listen guys, it is very hard for me to be there, but I have a task to complete. It should keep my mind off of him.” Harry said giving them a smile that looked no different than the one Val had just given him a few moments before.
At that moment Dean Thomas shot into the common room with a hurried look about him. He was out of breath. “You guys better come. Val and Draco. They are down a few flights and having a hell of a row.”
The three friends ran to the portrait hole and down the stairs that were crowded with people listening to the argument. They could hear them a flight above where they stood.
“Get off it, Draco. What difference does it make? Either you’re a B*st*rd or I am. It doesn’t matter one way or the other? Neither one of us asked to be born into such a twisted family.” Val said through gritted teeth.
The scowl on Draco’s face looked bitterer than she could ever imagine. “Yeah well, maybe you don’t care to be a Malfoy, but I do.” He answered but his face twisted into an evil smile.
Harry, Ron and Hermione finally broke through the crowd to stand behind Val. “Ah, Potter, just the person I was waiting for.” Draco said in false welcome.
“What are you at now, Malfoy?” Harry asked seeing the wicked gleam in his eyes.
“Just giving my dear sister an early Christmas gift. One you might be interested in seeing.” Draco smiled yet again enjoying himself.
“What are you talking about?” Val asked in frustration.
He smiled yet again. “Well it seems I came across something that belonged to your dear mother, Val. A private journal.” Draco said pulling the journal from beneath his robe.
“Give me that.” Val said her face going very pale. “Where did you get that?”
“A friend of the family mailed it to me. I’ve been doing some interesting reading of late.” Draco smiled holding the book up and flipping it to a certain page. “I read this passage last night. It was very enlightening.”
Val immediately grabbed the journal from his hands before he could start reading. She scanned the page not really reading the words but looking at the handwriting. She had been so young when her mother died that she hadn’t been writing yet herself, but after her mother’s death she had gathered everything she could find with her mother’s writing on it so she could save it for later. She had memorized her mother’s sweeping strokes and recognized it immediately.
“It’s hers. I’m not lying. Would you like me to read that passage? It’s particularly informative.” Draco said smiling. “I even memorized it.”
Val scowled at him and then began reading aloud, knowing he would if she did not.
Dear Journal,
This is my final entry. I know that by morning I will be no more.
Val’s voice faltered at the words, but then she continued.
My only true hope is that someday this journal falls into the hands of my dear sweet Val. There are so many things in here that she needs to know. She needs to know of how I died. She needs to know of the evil that is Lucius and Narcissa. But most of all she needs to know the truth about herself. She is so young now. The information would devastate her, but in time she must know the truth. She must know that Lucius Malfoy is not her father. Val froze after reading the words. Could it be true? She quickly continued, not caring who heard her at that point.
After I discovered his infidelity with Narcissa, I was so angry. I did something rather foolish, though I will never regret it. I found myself with the true love of my life again. The small time we spent together was bliss, but I knew it could not be anything more than a short affair. He has his loyalties to what is right in our world. And there is no room for love. With this in mind I hope that by the time my darling reads this that the world is a better place, and she may truly be able to become acquainted with her father. At those words Val stopped reading. She was staring at the name that followed the last words she had spoken. It was a name she knew. But it was the last one she had ever expected to see. She looked up to Draco. The look of utter confusion on her face was all it took for him to start laughing.
“Well, my dear. Cat got your tongue. Can’t say the name. Well it looks like you got exactly what you wanted. You’re not a Malfoy. But tell me, how does it feel to be the daughter of Sirius Black?” Draco said smiling as sweetly as possible.
There was a combined gasp among the crowd. Harry looked at Val and could tell that what he said was true. She stood there looking at Draco, but instead of hate on her face, he could see a deeper pain than he had ever imagined possible.
Draco’s sarcastic smile faltered slightly. “Well aren’t you going to say anything?” He asked in a slightly nervous tone.
“No. I’m not.” Val whispered and then closed the book in her hands and holding it close to her chest. She gave him one more painful look and then turned pushing her way through the crowd and up to the common room. Harry watched her go, but did not know what to say.
He turned back to Draco, who was watching where Val had disappeared. “Was it worth it? Do you feel better?” He growled.
Draco turned to him and the sarcastic smile landed on his face again. “Why yes, I am. How do you feel about this? Did you ever really decide whether or not Black betrayed your parents? To bad your new girlfriend happens to be his kid.”
“I’m going to say this once and only once, Malfoy. Sirius Black did not betray my parents. I am as certain of that, as I am of my own name. So what you just revealed doesn’t bother me a bit. As a matter of fact, knowing that Val is not a Malfoy, is a plus in my eyes.” Harry said moving closer to him until he was within a foot of Draco’s face. He stared hard at Draco with a look of utter hate on his face. They stayed that way for a moment and then Harry turned to go back up the stairs. The other students parted to let him through as they saw the murderous look on his face.
Hermione and Ron made to follow Harry but Ron could not resist the chance. “Oh and by the way, Malfoy. Val never said a word about your secret. We learned it from Luna Lovegood. Her father did a story on it several years ago for the Quibbler.”
At those words Draco’s smirk faltered. “What are you staring at?” He growled at the younger students staring at him. They all left him standing there on the landing alone. For some reason he thought broadcasting Val’s parentage in front of the entire school would feel much more satisfying than it had. But instead he just felt exactly what he was, very alone.
Author's Note: Well anyone guess that one? There was a clue back in one of the earlier chapters.
